Cogentin (Benztropine Injection)

Generic name: Benztropine
Drug class: Anticholinergic antiparkinson agents

Usage of Cogentin (Benztropine Injection)

Benztropine injection is used with other medicines to treat Parkinson's disease. By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this medicine allows more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. It is also used to control severe reactions to certain medicines that are used to treat nervous, mental, and emotional conditions (e.g., phenothiazine medicine such as prochlorperazine, Compazine®, Mellaril®, Phenergan®, Thorazine®, Trilafon®).

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Cogentin (Benztropine Injection) side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain

aggressive and violent behavior

being forgetful

bloating

burning while urinating

confusion about identity, place, and time

constipation

decrease in frequency of urination

decrease in urine volume

diarrhea

difficult or painful urination

difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)

difficulty with speaking

difficulty with swallowing

discouragement

dizziness

dry mouth

extremely high fever or body temperature

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

fast, shallow breathing

fast, weak heartbeat

feeling sad or empty

fever

headache

hot, dry skin

irritability

lack of appetite

lack of sweating

listlessness

loss of interest or pleasure

mood or mental changes

muscle cramps

muscle weakness

nervousness

numbness of the fingers

pale, clammy skin

seeing things that are not there

thirst

tiredness

trouble concentrating

trouble with sleeping

vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose

Blindness

blurred vision

change in consciousness

cold, clammy skin

decreased vision

dizziness

eye pain

holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact

lightheadedness

loss of consciousness

muscle weakness

nausea or vomiting

no breathing

nosebleeds

numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs

shakiness and unsteady walk

sweating

tearing

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness

vision problems

wheezing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

Enlarged pupils

loss of appetite

skin rash

weight loss

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Cogentin (Benztropine Injection)

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Because of benztropine's toxicity, it should be used with caution in children 3 years of age or older. It is not recommended for use in children below 3 years of age.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of benztropine injection in geriatric patients.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Potassium Citrate

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amantadine

Buprenorphine

Clozapine

Codeine

Glucagon

Glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrronium Tosylate

Methacholine

Metoclopramide

Oxycodone

Quetiapine

Revefenacin

Scopolamine

Secretin Human

Tapentadol

Tiotropium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Betel Nut

Chlorpromazine

Haloperidol

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Cogentin (Benztropine Injection)

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine may be given as a shot into one of your muscles or given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Warnings

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow changes in your dose and to check for any unwanted effects.

Benztropine injection may cause dizziness, trouble in controlling movements, or trouble in thinking or seeing clearly. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other jobs that require you to be alert, well-coordinated, or able to think or see well.

Do not stop taking this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping completely.

This medicine may make you sweat less, causing your body temperature to increase. Use extra care to avoid becoming overheated during exercise or hot weather while you are taking this medicine, since overheating may result in heat stroke.

This medicine may cause muscle weakness. If you have concerns about this, check with your doctor.

If you develop any unusual or strange thoughts and behavior while receiving benztropine injection, be sure to discuss it with your doctor. Some changes that have occurred in people receiving this medicine are like those seen in people who drink too much alcohol. Other changes might be confusion, worsening of depression, visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there), suicidal thoughts, and unusual excitement, nervousness, or irritability.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are taking this medicine.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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